The next morning was almost enjoyably. Besides the dirty looks I have gotten from the Slytherins and some Gryffindors, I actually had a good breakfast. I can't believe word about me and Draco spread so fast. Then again, this is Hogwarts.

I saw Draco looking over at me helplessly while the Slytherins were lecturing him. Probably about me. I stifled a laugh.

Just then, a drop-dead gorgeous dark-brown haired - even darker than mine - girl walked in gracefully into the Great Hall. Everyone muttered around excitedly. Who was she? A Veela? Impossible...!

I watched along with the rest of the students interestedly as she walked up to Professsor Dumbledore and whispered into his ear. Professor Dumbledore looked up, surprised. He nodded, then motioned for her to follow him and they went out.

Excited whispers erupted around me almost immediately.

"She's gorgeous..."

"... from Beauxbaton?"

***

At dinnertime, we saw the new girl again. She sure is an eye-catcher. All of us watched her, mouth opened, as she smiled elegantly at us and tossed her head.

"Ahem, may I have your attention?" Professor Dumbledore's voice brought me crashing down back to Earth.

"We have a new fifth year student here transferred from Beauxbaton. Her name is Beliarosa Hersilia Atractivo. Please welcome her," Dumbledore said, with a slight amusement in his voice. "She has been sorted into..." he paused. "Slytherin."

As the Slytherin table erupted into cheers and wolf-calls, the rest of the tables were sighing in disappointment. What was wrong with everyone? Even Harry looked downcast. "Hellooo?" I said, waving my hand in front of him. I think the only people who aren't upset are half the girls in Gryffindor and Ron.

She is pretty, I admitted to myself grudgingly. I guess I'm going to be seeing a lot of her.

I tried to catch Draco's eyes but I couldn't find him. Where...? I looked around, feeling rather odd. He couldn't have just disappeared, could he?

Ron nudged me. "Hermione, over there."

I turned to the direction he pointed. Oh big deal, so the Belia girly is sitting there. So what?

I gaped.

Draco Malfoy was sitting right next to her.

Draco's POV

Her voice is so beautiful. Just like music. Some sort of classical songs Clayderman plays. Completely deli-

Draco Malfoy! A voice said shrilly in my mind, interrupting all thoughts of Beliarosa. Irritated, I glanced around to see who had spoken.

Oh. That girl is Gryffindor. What was her name again? Oh yes, Hermione Granger.

I stared at her, annoyed to be interrupted. WHAT?

Draco Malfoy, how dare you! Hermione said furiously.

Couldn't be bothered, I rolled my eyes at her and turned back to Beliarosa, who was now smiling sweetly at me and asking me if I had been to Beauxbaton school grounds before.

Shaking my head slightly, I prompted her to talk more.

Hermione's POV

HOW DARE HE! HE ACTUALLY TURNED AWAY FROM ME!

I felt a hand on my shoulder. Furious, I kept staring at Draco, willing him to look over once more and slapped the hand away.

Infuriated, I started thinking about all sorts of curses I would do on him when I see him in the prefects' common room.

***

Where is that guy? I thought, half-worried, the other half still mad at him. As if he heard me, Draco popped in to the prefects' common room, and without greeting me, he passed me as if I was invisible and slammed his bedroom door.

I stared after him in disbelief. Eighteen seconds later, I was knocking and kicking his door. At long last, Draco opened the door.

"Excuse me," he said coolly. A voice I hadn't heard since-since a long time ago.

On instinct, my hand flew up and touched his forehead. As if I wasn't shocked enough by my own action, he wrenched my hand and almost twisted it. "Draco!" I yelled in pain.

Suddenly, he jerked his head, as if he had just woken up from a trance. "Wha- Hermione, you okay?"

I slapped him. "You almost twisted my arm!" I shouted.

"I did not!" he said indignantly.

I thrusted my hand at him. "What are these red marks then?"

"You hurt yourself," Draco said lamely.

I kept silent, shooting daggers at him with my eyes. He must have realized that I wasn't having him on.

"Hermione, I'm sorry. I didn't know... Did I really twist your arm?" His voice became more worried.

"Almost," I mumbled softly.

He took my hand and massaged it. "Feeling better?" he asked, his voice husky.